Improved Evaluation of Equivalent Top-Down Load-Displacement Curve from a Bottom-Up Pile Load Test

Abstract

A modified procedure is presented in this study to evaluate the equivalent top-down load-displacement curve in a bottom-up pile load test considering elastic shortening. On the basis of the results of a parametric study on a bored pile in normally consolidated cohesive soils under undrained conditions, varying shear strength distribution and pile slenderness ratio, it was concluded that the pile shortening caused by the skin-friction component of the load in a top-down test can be related to the measured elastic shortening in a bottom-up test. A